Meaning of second banana | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A comedian who plays a secondary or supporting role, especially as straight man and traditionally in vaudeville or burlesque theatre.
   colloquial, idiomatic
2. A person who serves in a supporting, secondary, or subsidiary capacity; an assistant.
   colloquial, idiomatic

Examples

“He grew disenchanted with playing second banana and never getting credit for the laughter.”

“The plumber left his second banana behind, to finish⟳ installing my new sink⟳.”

“When you want⟳ to be the boss, but you can't, it's not a lot of fun to be second banana.”

CEFR level